Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-03-11
AN EYELESS CHILD.
Perfect in All Other Respects, But Wholly
Without the Organ of Vision.

Il
! Without the Organ cf Vision.
Brazil (Ind.) Cor. Globe Democrat.
There was born to William ana Anna
Armstrong, of Coal City, near the Clay
county line of Owen county, on Septem-
Der 5, 1885, daughter, perfect physically
in all other respects, but eyeless. The
external parts of the eye, the eyelids and
ella, are perfect, but the globe, or eye
| ball, is entirely wanting. The eyelids are
closed normally, never opening voluntar-
| lily, but they may be separated with lit
J tie effort. The shedding Of tears, when
crying, indicates the presence of and nor
nal actionE ofthe laChrymal glands. There
is no defect in any other organ of sense,
either structural or functional. At birth
she weighed eight and One-haf pounds,
| being smaller than any of her brothers or
! sisters. She is now the sixth and youngest
child. For six months following her birth
| she matured slowly, retaining the appear.
ance of newborn babe. To add to the
| phenomenal character of the case, no de-
| formity, defect or other functional de-
rRngement characterizes any other mem
| Der of the family, either Immediately or
| through remote ancestry.
NclllSg IOl LuLS ID LuC OAllO uhLuGy 10
developing well in strength, considering
the degree of physical inactivity her
blindness imposes upon her. When but
few days old she betrayed an appreCia-
ton Of light by turning her face toward
the window or open door. Her sense of
touch is so acute that she Is able to dis
tinguish in this way the different mem
bers of the household. She eagerly grasps
hon nd hot hnT faNn or
and caressing it gives expression to affec-
tionate recognition. She can not talk,
but utters sounds belonging to children
of a younger age. She is Wakeful at
nights, sleeping only in the daytime.
She scarcely ever cries, but, on the con-
trary, is cheerful and playful. She will
sit for hours upon little mat on the
floor, contentedly engaged with her play
things, of which she has quit ! collection,
showing marked appreciat IN of trifes,
among which is common rubber hair
pin, which she has treasure for quite
year. She will occupy her cradle at times,
and what is much better than most chill
dren of her age, takes pleas IRE in rocking
herself. If, by chance or otherwise, the
cradle comes in contact with the wall or
other object, she will IN her own way
LA nv al oPPS9A ~ low
set right. Her appetite, digestion and
health are good, and exec ptionally free
from disease. She can not walk, and is
but little inclined to do SC; yet she is
able to stand alone and move about with
the aid of chair. Her parents do not
encourage her in walking, humoring her
inclination and recognizing danger from
contact with surroundings and from &C
cidents generally. No detect or ailment
manifests itself in her deve opment.
A great many visitors from the imme-
date vicinity have called to see little
Nellie, attracted by the phenomenon of
total lack of the organs of vision; but
the neighborhood is retired, and but little
publicity has been given the matter. The
parents kindly answer all questions and
manifest no disposition to withhold the
facts. Mr.. Armstrong is q millwright,
and has lived in Vigo county most of his
life